Yu Sisi greeted them politely. Before Xu Zifan could introduce her, Xu's mother quickly stepped forward, took Yu Sisi's hand, and said with a smile, "You must be Sisi, right? I heard your voice on TV the day before yesterday. I could tell you were a good girl just by listening to you, and it's true today."
Xu Zifan chuckled and gestured for them to sit down, then brought over the fruit platter and juice. "Dad, Mom, have some juice to cool off. It's so hot; I could have just come over. Why did you bother?"
Mr. Xu smiled and said, "You must be tired after being busy for so long. We just wanted to take a stroll. We also came to let you know that your mother and I are planning to go for a walk around the area and stay for a while before coming back."
Xu's father gave Xu Zifan a wink, and Xu Zifan understood that Yue Lingling must have gone to the Xu family. They came over because they were afraid of running into each other and having an unpleasant encounter. It was also because of this that they decided to go out and have fun.
What kind of situation is this? Why would they be unable to go home because of an outsider? However, Xu Zifan knew that they had always treated Yue Lingling like their own daughter. After so many years of relationship, they needed a transition period to accept her. A one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't work, so let's leave it at that for now.
While Xu's mother chatted casually with Yu Sisi, she subtly found out who the Yu family was, Yu Sisi's job, and her future plans. She was quite adept at this, and she didn't embarrass Yu Sisi at all.
After chatting for a while, Xu's mother got up to cook, but Xu Zifan quickly stopped her and said with a smile, "Mom, you always see my posts on WeChat Moments, but you've never tasted my cooking. You and Dad can rest today, and I'll cook you a sumptuous meal."
Xu's mother asked skeptically, "Your photos look pretty good, but can it really taste good? You've only been making it for a short time."
"Mom, your son has a talent for cooking. He can open a restaurant someday when he doesn't have to be a model anymore. Just wait and see." Xu Zifan pressed her shoulder to make her sit down and turned on the TV for her to watch.
Not wanting to disturb their family reunion, Yu Sisi stood up and said, "Uncle and Aunt, I'll head back now."
Xu's mother quickly grabbed her, "Sisi, don't go. You live right across from each other, what are you going back for? Zifan will cook, and we can eat together, it'll be more lively. Besides, you two are so close, it'll be no fun if you go back to eat alone."
Yu Sisi instantly recalled the phone call she had with Xu Zifan. She seemed to have mentioned that she wasn't interested in eating. Her face flushed, and she said shyly, "Then I'll go help Zifan cook and lend him a hand."
"Okay, be careful not to burn yourself." This time, Xu's mother didn't stop them. She was hoping that they would develop their relationship and get together sooner.
When the two entered the kitchen, Xu's mother and father looked at each other and smiled. They both felt that good things were about to happen, and they were determined to keep a close watch on Yue Lingling. No matter how close they were, it was a fact that Yue Lingling had ruined Xu Zifan's relationship twice. They could not hold a grudge, but they could not be completely without resentment. This time, they would not give her any chance.
Xu Zifan cooked with practiced ease, while Yu Sisi assisted him seamlessly, having cooked together many times before. She hadn't seriously considered relationships before, but today, because of Xu's parents' attitude, she suddenly felt an ambiguous atmosphere in the small space of the kitchen with Xu Zifan, and she became quieter.
After finishing chopping the vegetables, Xu Zifan turned to look at her and chuckled softly, "What's wrong? Feeling uncomfortable?"
Yu Sisi looked at him, her eyes darting away as she quickly lowered her head, shook her head, and said, "No, Uncle and Aunt are very kind and easy to get along with."
Xu Zifan glanced at her and suddenly said, "Did you watch the episode where we made that phone call?"
"I saw it."
"After that episode, the staff asked me, 'What's your relationship to me?'"
Yu Sisi became nervous, and her movements as she washed the vegetables unconsciously slowed down as she waited to hear Xu Zifan continue. Unexpectedly, Xu Zifan suddenly bent down and leaned close to her, startling her.
Xu Zifan looked at her and smiled, saying, "I was very troubled at the time and didn't know how to answer. What do you think I should say if someone asks me that again?"
Yu Sisi couldn't tell whether she was happy or disappointed. Her heart was pounding. She pushed him away and continued washing vegetables, whispering, "Just say you're a friend."
"But I don't want to just be friends. I want to be with you, to see you every day," Xu Zifan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rested his chin gently on her shoulder, and asked with a smile, "Will you be my girlfriend?"
Yu Sisi's ears instantly turned bright red. She placed her hands on Xu Zifan's hands and whispered, "How can you ask someone a question like that? I haven't even agreed to your request yet, and you've already... you've already hugged me..."
Xu Zifan tightened his arms and kissed her on the cheek. "Because I knew you would say yes. From now on, I'll sit there and let you draw whatever you want, take care of your life, and go on business trips together, and travel around while we're at it. When we have holidays, we'll stay at home together, or go to some fun places for a few days. When we get old, we'll find a beautiful place with clear waters and green mountains to live a quiet and comfortable life. What do you say?"
The scene he described flashed through Yu Sisi's mind, so beautiful that it filled her with longing. Her shyness vanished, and she nodded earnestly, following her heart, "Okay."
Xu Zifan kissed her again, and while still holding her from behind, he quickly washed the vegetables and started chopping them. Being together and not being together made a difference. They were cooking in the kitchen with the same tacit understanding, but now their space was filled with pink bubbles. They would unconsciously smile when they occasionally looked at each other, and even the food seemed to exude sweetness.
During the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Xu noticed something amiss and were beaming with joy. Mrs. Xu kept giving Yu Sisi picked up some food, and the way she looked at her was like she was looking at her daughter-in-law.
On the same day, Yu Sisi got a boyfriend and even gained the approval of his parents. She felt no nervousness at all, but rather a sense of happiness. Her parents had passed away early, and her loving parents made her feel the care and warmth of parents. In just one afternoon together, their affection for each other had already reached a very high level.
After dinner, Xu's parents planned to leave on their own, but Xu Zifan couldn't let them. He drove them home, and on the way, he bought them high-quality mountaineering and swimming gear, as well as many other travel essentials, so they could choose what to take with them.
As soon as the car pulled up in front of their house, Yue Lingling saw Xu Zifan's car and immediately ran out excitedly. Trying her best to hide the excitement in her eyes, she smiled and said generously, "Dad Xu, Mom Xu, Brother Zifan, you're back from the competition?"
Xu's mother's expression changed slightly, and she smiled as she went over to pull Yue Lingling into the house. "Yes, Zifan bought us a lot of things. Come and help me take a look."
Yue Lingling followed Xu Zifan's mother inside after seeing him carrying things in both hands. However, Xu Zifan put the things down and prepared to leave.
She had waited so long for this chance to see Xu Zifan, how could she bear to miss it? Forget about pretending to be composed anymore, she quickly walked up to Xu Zifan, grabbed him, and burst into tears, "Brother Zifan, please forgive me, I really know I was wrong!"
[Shaohua: Host, a scan reveals that the woman you dislike is two months pregnant. She claims to like you, but she's secretly carrying another man's child; she's extremely dishonest.]
Xu Zifan looked at Yue Lingling's face in surprise. Judging from her appearance, she was indeed pregnant, but it was not an auspicious sign. The outcome was probably not good, but that was none of his business.
He simply brushed Yue Lingling aside, took two steps back, and said calmly, "Lingling, what's past is past. You've been asking me to forgive you, so fine, I forgive you. You also have good news, so I should congratulate you. I hope you two can grow old together."
Xu's mother, who had just come over to help, was stunned. "What? Lingling has a boyfriend?"
Yue Lingling was stunned. She instantly realized that Wei Yan must have told Xu Zifan. She had slept with Wei Yan after drinking. What would Xu Zifan think of her? Wei Yan knew about her feelings for Xu Zifan, so how could he tell him?!
She hurriedly explained, "Brother Zifan, listen to me, it's not what you think. Wei Yan took advantage of me while I was drunk. I hate him so much, I..."
Xu Zifan raised an eyebrow, interrupting her, "So you're saying he forced you? Should I call the police for you?"
Yue Lingling was speechless for a moment after his words, and the room fell silent as awkwardness quickly spread.
Yue Lingling awkwardly managed to squeeze out a sentence, "No need, I... I'm a girl, and... and he's a friend too..."
Xu Zifan nodded and said nonchalantly, "It's up to you to decide." Then he turned to his parents and said, "Dad, Mom, I'm going back now."
"Oh, okay, you should go now, drive carefully." Xu's mother realized what was happening and hurriedly pushed him out, deliberately saying, "You and Sisi can enjoy your little life. Your father and I are leaving tomorrow, so you don't need to worry about anything. The important thing is to bring me a daughter-in-law as soon as possible so I can hold a grandson. Go now."
Upon hearing this, Yue Lingling's eyes widened. Xu's mother's attitude made her feel a huge sense of crisis. With her previous two girlfriends, Xu's mother had always been polite and courteous, never expressing such eagerness or eagerness to marry them off in private. How could Sisi have already gained Xu's mother's support?
She was terrified of the feeling of never being able to find or see Xu Zifan again. Ignoring Xu's mother's attempts to stop her, she rushed out and blocked Xu Zifan's car, crying, "Brother Zifan, I know I made mistakes before. I liked you the wrong way, I shouldn't have tried to be clever. Now I've changed, I'll never do anything you don't like again. Can we still get along like before? I have no family, only you, Xu's father, and Xu's mother. I can't lose you. From now on, I'll only treat you as my brother, my real brother. Please don't ignore me..."
Xu Zifan didn't even roll down the car window, and reversed to try and go around her. Yue Lingling blocked his way again, saying unwillingly, "You just broke up with Zhao Xin around Li Dong's birthday, and Yu Sisi has only known you for a few days and is already living with you? She's not a good girl at all. I admit I was wrong, but women are better at judging other women. I just wanted to help you get rid of those bad women. They don't deserve you at all. How can I bear to see you with those bad women? If you find a good woman, I will definitely be there to sincerely wish you well. Zifan, you have to believe me."
"Lingling, that's enough! Shut up!" Xu's mother ran forward and grabbed her, her face darkening.
Xu Zifan rolled down the car window this time and looked at Yue Lingling coldly as if she were a stranger. "Sisi is my girlfriend. I don't want to hear you slander her anymore."